Bard College Alumni/ae Association

09/03/2026

Mark your calendars, Bardians! 🍂 Family and Alumni/ae Weekend is coming to Annandale October 23–25, 2026. Start making your plans, book your accommodations, and get ready to visit the Bard campus. Check your e-mail soon to RSVP.

09/03/2026

At 91, jazz pianist Ran Blake '60 shows no signs of slowing down — new album out now, with a birthday concert coming up in Boston. Decades of music, still going strong.

09/02/2026

Bardian behind the lens: Theo Wenner '09 shot the new Dior menswear campaign. 📸

09/01/2026

For all you jazz fans 🎹 🎶 out there: The Bard Jazz Program continues to be one of Bard’s most innovative and exciting programs, with an amazing faculty and students—including Associate Professor Angelica Sanchez, who will perform a piano duo concert with NEA Jazz Master pianist and composer, Marilyn Crispell, on Tuesday, September 8. This concert is a benefit for the program and includes a reception with the artists. Tickets are limited for this very special event: https://bardian.bard.edu/register/eveningofjazz26

09/01/2026

Congratulations to Brandon Blackwood '13, who has been named Designer of the Year at the 2026 Style Awards by Harlem's Fashion Row. Blackwood was also recently appointed to NYC's business advisory council by Mayor Mamdani.

Two major honors for one outstanding Bardian.

09/01/2026

Meet the Acting President of Bard College Jonathan Becker, who shared his thoughts on his almost 30 years with Bard and why he's excited to lead the College now.

Bard's Acting President, Jonathan Becker, answered some questions a...

08/28/2026

Last night, following the Matriculation Ceremony marking the completion of the Language and Thinking Program, the Office of Development and Alumni/ae Affairs hosted the annual Thank a Donor event. Incoming students enjoyed ice cream and wrote postcards of gratitude to Bard donors. Look for a postcard in your mailbox soon!



Photos by Danni Chen ‘26

08/26/2026

✨ Sky-high inspiration from Bardian Janet Echelman MFA '95! Her breathtaking net sculpture "A Sky Full of Hope: Earthtime 1.78 Frankfurt" just debuted over the Konstablerwache in Frankfurt, Germany — transforming the urban skyline into a floating, glowing work of art. Janet's large-scale installations have graced cities around the world, and we love seeing her creative vision reach new heights (literally!). 🌆



Photo: Holger Menzel / © Stadt Frankfurt am Main

08/20/2026

Yesterday was Democracy Day at Bard — our annual tradition of connecting the work we do as an academic institution to our lives as citizens in a democracy. 🗳️

This year, the Center for Civic Engagement teamed up with Parkhurst Dining Services and the Office of Development and Alumni/ae Affairs to throw a block party on campus! Food trucks, a DJ, and the chance to connect with campus resources and local community partners — what a day.

Last photo: a huge shoutout to our alumni/ae panel on Civic Engagement, moderated by Acting President Jonathan Becker. Panelists included:

🎙️ Peter Criswell '89, Ulster County Legislator and Chair of the Legislature for Ulster County Government
🎙️ Emma Kreyche '02, Director of Advocacy, Outreach & Education at Worker Justice Center of New York
🎙️ Patrick Stephens '19, Director of Restorative Justice at the Center for Community Alternatives
🎙️ Shawn Young '19, Project Lead, Upstate Reentry and Capital Region Initiative, Bard Prison Initiative

Thank you to all who joined us for an incredible day of dialogue, food, and community. 🧡